Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I have recently started adding more fat to my diet, usually by way of coconut milk. I haven't really changed anything else. My diet is meat & veg, bit of fruit, nuts. Nothing else has changed exercise wise.

For the last month or so I have felt tied every morning and struggled to get up. I have also been a bit congested. It is winter here, but I font normally feel like this in winter.

Has anyone else had the same symptoms after increasing fat in their diet, or could it just be a coincidence?

flag	asked Jun 16 2011 at 3:04 peter 6,340●2●6●29

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Peter, do yourself a favor and add good carbs for the cals instead, and lower the fat. I'm not trying to be condescending. Fat = slow in so many ways. – Grok Jun 16 2011 at 8:53

Cheers Grok, your answer isnt condescending in any way. I dont shy away from the good carbs at the moment, but i think i just need to find the right ratio for me. thanks – peter Jun 16 2011 at 10:40

ben61820 · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-16 13:06:21Z UTC

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When i was VLC i consistenly slept for nine to ten hours per day. Absolutely serious. I did feel fine throughout the day I suppose but my body just needed that sleep.

Ever since starting to eat way more starch, and thus lowering my fat-intake, i sleep 7-8 hours on the nose, rising without an alarm every damn day. And I feel fine throughout the day, and my lifting has *improved.*

I was always lean, i just had been LCing it cuz like many in alternative health circles I was told for so many years that carbs, even good paleo carbs, are unnecessary (which is of course true) for life and thus less-than-ideal. Absolute BS. Carbs are indeed not essential for life but life is a lot better with them!

answered Jun 16 2011 at 13:06

ben61820
16.1k●1●11●57

	Thanks for actually focusing on the question Ben. I have found i need an extra hour or two and dont want to get out of bed, which is unusual for me. I do find that the extra fat is really beneficial prior to going cycling. Thanks for your answer. What starch do you recommend? Sweet potatos, rice? – peter Jun 16 2011 at 22:54
	It's unclear from the question whether this extra fat in peter's diet is in the context of VLC. Later in some comments, he says he doesn't eat VLC. So, while he obviously likes your answer, it doesn't seem particularly relevant! – Ambimorph Jun 16 2011 at 23:41
	@ambi, considering we are on these boards I think it's safe to assume when one says "high fat" they are referring to some order of LC, no? @Peter, everyday I consume starch, usually sweet potatoes with lunch and then white potatoes with dinner. Sometimes we'll go squash, pumpkin, etc but it's usually those potatoes. Oh and I'll snack on some sprouted corn tortillas in the afternoon if I haven't gotten enough calories earlier. Too many sweet potatoes I've found make me fart:( – ben61820 Jun 17 2011 at 1:36
	@ambi, i equate VLC to very low. some people in the threads talk about 0 carbs, or below 25-50 carbs. I would say this is vlc. im not a carb monster, but i dont go as low as some. probably in the 50-100 mark on an average day. – peter Jun 17 2011 at 2:31

gn · Answer 2 · 2011-06-16 07:18:02Z UTC

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consciously and proactively trying to increase the amount of fat in one's diet by adding high fat foods (like coconut milk) is delusional and self-defeating - - - i'd say this superstitious fat-worshipping/fat-gorging/fat-obsessing (especially for all things coconut) is the biggest malady of the paleo community - no wonder people fail when they try it, and then say "paleo" sucks, when nonsensical 'fataholism' is the main culprit

[ready to be voted down]

answered Jun 16 2011 at 7:18

gn

cheers for not really answering my question. i dont worship fat, i am trying to add more calories to my diet as i train pretty hard, both cycling and weights and i would like more energy without adding additional carbs. i have been eating and training paleo for about 2 year now, but thanks for being so condescending. – peter Jun 16 2011 at 7:29

Well said GN! Finally someone who doesn´t mince his words XD. I'm 120% agree with you anyway! – A.J. Aguirre Jun 16 2011 at 7:49

more carbohydrates and protein then ? – DudleyP Jun 16 2011 at 8:06

Dudley, i dont eat VLC, and i think i eat a fair bit of protein. I will just tinker with the ratios until i get it right. Cheers – peter Jun 16 2011 at 9:28

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People are different. I'm trying to gain weight, but react poorly to excessive carb consumption (I do get about 100-200g most days) and don't think excessive protein consumption is healthy. Adding gobs of fat to everything is the only way I can eat high-enough in cals to gain and maintain. Plus I feel great and my skin isn't covered in pimples, keratosis pilaris and eczema for the first time in my life... – animalcule Jun 16 2011 at 13:20

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Jan · Answer 3 · 2011-06-16 08:46:39Z UTC

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Jep, i feel sluggish after a high-fat-meal (i mean > 80g fat). Feels not unlike the carb-induced insulin hit. Takes about 1 hour to get normal again. Also, leg cramps in the morning hours after a prolongued carb abstinence.

Slightly off-topic:

I'd try adding more carbs (tubers & the occasional brown rice) instead of fat, if you're training high volume.

I guess adapting to a fat fueled regimen might take more time than one might expect, so either push through until comfortable or start experimenting w/ ratios ...

edited Jun 16 2011 at 8:46

answered Jun 16 2011 at 8:41

Jan
751●2●8

Thanks Jan. I'm usually ok after meals, and during the day, it's just in the mornings i've felt really tired. I wasn't sure if this, being blocked up and the extra fat were linked in any way. I have felt like this for about a month, which would coincide with the extra fat. It could be linked, or maybe i have just had a bug that i've been fighting off. In general, I don't think i have added much in the way of total calories, just swapped some carbs for some fat. Hunger-wise i feel great. I will experiment with going back to my previous diet and seeing if i feel any better. Cheers – peter Jun 16 2011 at 9:26

Tiredness on high fat diet

3 Answers